Monday, December 11, 2006

A few members of the new Congressional leadership have special abilities, education and beliefs. Take the top Republican of the International Relations Committee. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., appears in a video saying: "I welcome the opportunity of having anyone assassinate Fidel Castro and any leader who is oppressing the people." Her vehement denial included the possibility at some point she had mentioned Castro's potential assassination.

Not to be outdone, the incoming Chair of the House Intelligence Committee could not provide the basics on the players in the “War on Terror” over 5 years after 9/11. Silvestre Reyes stumbled repeatedly on questions one would expect an informed Congressional leader to readily answer.

The leading Democrat knew of the basic Sunni Shia split, which surpassed two Republican members of the Intelligence Committee. However, Silvestre failed to pick the right branch of Islam associated with al Qaeda. He also booted the question on what is Hezbollah? Apparently Mr. Reyes bought President Bush’s big pot of terrorists stew offered last summer, finding it not worthy to know the difference between a carrot and a hunk of beef.

Rep. Reyes responded with the usual reaction to “difficult questions” about basic issues.